Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in society. It contains naturally occurring mind-altering or psycho-active chemicals. The debate over legality, addictive properties, recreational and harmless use, and the argument over legitimate medical applications goes back decades. The clear evidence is this: marijuana is highly addictive and a gateway drug to harder, and more dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Action Recovery Group offers a private and exclusive drug and alcohol treatment center for challenges, which include marijuana addiction. If you or someone you love is struggling with abusing or ahs experienced a dependency on marijuana, please call us at 801-475-HOPE. The information below offers research and insights on the use, abuse and drug rehab for marijuana addiction.

Marijuana Facts

Compulsive behaviors and addictions do occur with regular use of Marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported marijuana used over long periods of time indicates the addiction process increases from 9% to 25% chances of real addiction through regular abuse depending upon age groups. Teens have a much higher propensity to addiction, but the drug abuse data includes all age categories.(NIDA Infofacts on marijuana)

Marijuana is derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is the most widely distributed illicit drug.It is dried in a green and brown mix of the leaf, stem, seeds, or flowers of the cannabis plant. In its resin form it is called hashish.

Like tobacco, its most common form of ingestion is through being smoked.Smoking marijuana offers a quicker effect through absorption in lung tissues. It can also be blended into foods such as cookies, candy, or in teas to drink.

Street Names

Some slang and street terms for marijuana include:

Pot

Weed

Grass

Mary Jane

Hash or Hashish

Herb

Brain Chemistry

Marijuana’s chief mind-altering chemical is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).Smoked, THC is distributed throughout the body moving from the lungs to the bloodstream.Once introduced into the brain THC attaches to neurotransmitters and produces effects of temporary euphoria similar as experienced with other illicit drugs.

When transferred through the neurons THC sticks to cannabinoid receptors. Altered sensory perceptions in touch, sight, taste, smell, and feeling occur when the receptors are activated. Dulled sensations, hallucinations— some frightening—make the marijuana user susceptible to harming himself or others through the intoxicating effect.

Creating impaired motor coordination and distortions to visual discernment, intoxication by marijuana has a serious potential for danger to the user and others.

The pre-frontal cortex of the brain is affected through reduced blood flow which impairs decision making abilities. The hippocampus region of the brain is highly at risk. The hippocampus is responsible for memory, learning, and orientation. Studies have shown the hippocampus and cerebral cortex are highly susceptible to long-term damage from marijuana use.

Addiction and Other Health Effects

While marijuana legalization advocates argue and question the addicting qualities of marijuana the trail of destroyed lives in health, relationships, finances, and lost opportunities tells another story. This information is not about legalization merits but about recovery.

Marijuana addiction occurs when a person cannot control the impulse for its regular use and when it is needed in ever increasing doses to satisfy cravings or minimize withdrawal symptoms.

Recovery statistics propose that those who classify marijuana as a gateway drug, to even more addictive and dangerous substances, have reason to be concerned. From Drug War Facts we read the following:

“Marijuana was the illicit drug with the largest number of persons with past year dependence or abuse in 2013, followed by pain relievers, then by cocaine. Of the 6.9 million persons aged 12 or older who were classified with illicit drug dependence or abuse in 2013, 4.2 million persons had marijuana dependence or abuse.” -See more at: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Treatment#sthash.8qGLv278.dpuf

Health, Withdrawal, and Side Effects

The heart rate and consequent blood flow increases with use of marijuana. Long term effects include increasing damage to heart, lungs, and brain.

Side effects of marijuana abuse may include these withdrawal and long-term conditions:

Anxiety

Sleeplessness

Loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss

Intensified cravings

Anger and irritability

Cardiovascular disease

Lung and respiratory failure

Higher risk of infections

Mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia

The argument that marijuana use does not addict a user, and that it is no more serious “gateway” to the use of other drugs flies in the face of many studies as show here:

“The percentage of persons in 2013 reporting marijuana as the first illicit drug in past year initiation was greater than the corresponding percentage in 2012 (70.3 vs. 65.6 percent). The percentage reporting nonmedical use of pain relievers as the first illicit drug was lower in 2013 than in 2012 (12.5 vs. 17.0 percent).”See more at: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/node/453#sthash.VOUwON04.dpuf

Marijuana Recovery

There is hope for freedom and independence from marijuana and other drug addictions. As with any addiction compassionate caring is required for an individual who has lost the control to monitor himself. It may take less or more time in each individual case, but professionals with caring attitudes and a solid marijuana addiction recovery and drug rehab program take in the psychological, medical, and behavioral aspects of drug abuse—addressing the causes of drug addictions and the stabilizing of precious individual lives for regained control.

The Action Recovery Group offers skilled professionals who are dedicated to total care, recovery from drug addiction, and a restoration of health.A multi-faceted approach to drug abuse and addiction is what you can come to expect from the Action Recovery Group of Ogden, Utah.

When recovery is the concern, and life is about freedom from the chains of substance abuse, Action Recovery Group of Ogden is there in your corner. Call us now at (801) 475-HOPE.